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Risk Management and Cost Control for Plan Sponsors
Advisory support focused on long-term plan sustainability — structured to meet obligations while managing exposure, with ongoing actuarial coordination and investment oversight.
Retirement Plan Advisory
Explore our fiduciary advisory services for employer-sponsored retirement plans. Select a service below to preview our approach — then visit the full page for a deeper look.
Accelerated Retirement Savings for Business Owners and Key Employees
For high-income business owners, professionals, and key executives, a 401(k) alone isn't enough. Cash Balance Plans — the most popular form of defined benefit plan for small and mid-size businesses — allow annual tax-deductible contributions of $100,000 to $400,000+, far exceeding the $72,000 combined limit of a 401(k) and profit-sharing plan.
Bull Run Investment Management, LLC ("BRIM") serves as plan investment advisor and ERISA Section 3(38) discretionary investment fiduciary. BRIM designs the plan structure, manages plan assets, and coordinates the investment strategy with the plan's actuarial assumptions and funded status.
The Retirement Plan Company, LLC ("TRPC") — headquartered in Nashville, TN, serving 7,000+ qualified retirement plans since 1992 — provides the actuarial services, annual valuations, funding calculations, PBGC premium filings, and plan administration that defined benefit plans require. TRPC's actuarial team determines each participant's contribution range annually based on age, income, benefit formula, and IRS limits.
Brian Wendroff, CPA models the tax impact of each year's contribution and coordinates the deduction with your business return. The result: a coordinated strategy that shelters significantly more income than a 401(k) alone and builds retirement wealth at an accelerated pace.
What Defined Benefit Plan Services Includes
Defined benefit plans require actuarial expertise, investment management, and ongoing compliance that most advisors can't deliver alone. BRIM and TRPC work as a unified team — we handle the investments, they handle the actuarial math, and together we manage every layer.
Plan Design & Feasibility
We model whether a defined benefit or Cash Balance Plan makes sense for your business — analyzing owner ages, income levels, employee demographics, and cost tolerance. TRPC's actuaries run the feasibility projections and draft the plan document.
Actuarial Valuations & Funding
TRPC performs the required annual actuarial valuation — calculating minimum and maximum contribution ranges, determining funding targets, and certifying plan adequacy. These calculations drive each year's tax-deductible contribution amount.
Investment Management
BRIM serves as the 3(38) investment fiduciary for plan assets — building and managing a portfolio calibrated to the plan's liability structure, duration, and funding status. We align asset allocation with TRPC's actuarial assumptions to keep the plan funded efficiently.
Tax Coordination
Brian Wendroff, CPA models the tax impact of each year's contribution — coordinating the deduction with your business income, entity structure, and personal tax situation to maximize the after-tax benefit of every dollar contributed.
PBGC & Regulatory Compliance
TRPC handles all required filings — PBGC premium payments, Schedule SB actuarial certifications, Form 5500, and plan document amendments. Their ASPPA-credentialed team ensures every regulatory obligation is met on time.
Plan Termination & Rollover
When the time comes to freeze or terminate the plan, TRPC manages the full wind-down — final actuarial valuations, benefit distributions, annuity purchases, and IRS determination letters — while BRIM coordinates the rollover of proceeds into personal retirement accounts.
How We Design & Manage Your Defined Benefit Plan
Defined benefit plans are the most powerful — and most complex — retirement vehicles available to business owners. Our process ensures the plan is designed correctly, funded optimally, and administered flawlessly by TRPC's actuarial team.
Feasibility Analysis & Projections
TRPC's actuaries model contribution ranges based on owner ages, income, employee census, and business cash flow. We project 5–10 years of funding requirements so you understand the commitment before the plan is adopted.
Plan Design & Document Adoption
We select the optimal plan type — traditional defined benefit, Cash Balance, or DB/DC combination — and design the benefit formula. TRPC prepares the plan document, trust agreement, and adoption paperwork to establish the plan with the IRS.
Investment Strategy & Asset Allocation
BRIM builds an investment portfolio for plan assets — balancing growth with the liability-aware constraints of a defined benefit plan. We align asset allocation with TRPC's actuarial interest rate assumptions and the plan's funded status.
Annual Valuation & Contribution
Each year, TRPC performs the actuarial valuation — determining the minimum required contribution, maximum deductible contribution, and funded status. Brian Wendroff coordinates the contribution timing and tax deduction with your business return.
Ongoing Oversight & Lifecycle Planning
BRIM monitors investment performance and rebalances as needed. TRPC handles all ongoing administration, compliance filings, and benefit statements. When you're ready, we manage the transition — whether that's a plan freeze, termination, or rollover into personal accounts.
The Defined Benefit Plans We Design and Administer
Each defined benefit structure serves a different goal — from maximum tax-deferred accumulation to legacy pension obligations. TRPC administers all of these plan types, either standalone or in combination with a defined contribution plan.
Cash Balance Plan
The most popular defined benefit structure for business owners today. Each participant has a hypothetical "account balance" that grows by a guaranteed crediting rate — but contribution limits far exceed 401(k) maximums. Ideal for owners aged 40+ who want to shelter $150K–$300K+ annually. TRPC handles all actuarial calculations and annual valuations.
Traditional Defined Benefit Plan
A classic pension plan promising a specific monthly benefit at retirement — calculated from a formula based on salary and years of service. Contributions are determined annually by TRPC's actuaries based on the funding needed to meet future benefit obligations. Best suited for stable, profitable businesses with predictable cash flow.
DB/DC Combination Plans
Pairing a Cash Balance Plan with a 401(k) and profit sharing — the most powerful accumulation strategy available. The 401(k) handles employee deferrals and matching, while the Cash Balance Plan adds a massive additional tax-deferred layer for owners. TRPC administers both plans in tandem with coordinated compliance testing.
Frozen Plan Management & Termination
If you've inherited or are managing a frozen defined benefit plan, BRIM and TRPC can take over — handling ongoing actuarial valuations, PBGC premiums, investment management, and eventually a structured plan termination with benefit distributions and IRS determination letters.
Who Benefits Most from a Defined Benefit Plan
Defined benefit plans aren't for every business — but for the right owner, they're transformative. These are the profiles that benefit most from the accelerated tax-deferred accumulation a DB plan provides.
High-Income Business Owners (Age 40+)
Older owners benefit most — actuarial calculations allow larger contributions for participants closer to retirement. A 50-year-old owner can often contribute $250K+ annually, compared to $72K–$80K in a 401(k) alone.
Physicians, Dentists & Practice Owners
High-income professionals with few employees are the ideal Cash Balance Plan candidates — maximizing owner contributions while keeping employee costs manageable through careful plan design and TRPC's cross-testing expertise.
Law Firms & CPA Practices
Professional partnerships with high per-partner income and a desire to shelter significantly more than a 401(k) allows — especially firms with stable revenue and a willingness to commit to multi-year funding obligations.
Established Businesses with Stable Cash Flow
Companies with consistent profitability and a small number of highly compensated owners or executives — where the tax savings from a defined benefit plan significantly outweigh the cost of employee contributions.
Key Employee Retention Tool
Defined benefit plans can be designed to heavily favor long-tenured, highly compensated employees — making them a powerful retention tool for key executives whose departure would significantly impact the business.
Pre-Exit Wealth Acceleration
Business owners planning an exit in 5–10 years can use a Cash Balance Plan to rapidly build personal retirement wealth before the sale — converting business income into tax-deferred savings at an accelerated pace.
One Team, Managing the Most Complex Retirement Plans
Defined benefit plans require the closest coordination between actuary, investment manager, tax advisor, and ERISA counsel. BRIM and TRPC work as a single team — so every actuarial assumption, investment decision, and tax strategy is aligned.
The 401(k)-Only Approach vs. The BRIM + TRPC Approach
Shelter More. Accumulate Faster. Retire on Your Terms.
If you're contributing $72,000 a year and wishing you could do more — a Cash Balance Plan might be the most impactful strategy you've never been offered. Let's run the numbers.
Questions? Seeking Further Insight?
Connect with our team to discuss your goals. No obligations, no pressure — just a straightforward conversation about how we can help.
Questions? Seeking Further Insight?
Connect with our experts at BRIM.